7 Warning Signs Of Gaslighing In Relationship

 7 Warning Signs Of Gaslighing In Relationship

Gaslighting is a form of emotional manipulation and abuse in which the abuser or bully attempt to sow self doubt & confusion in your mind by distorting reality and forcing you to question your own judgment and intuition. Ultimately, the victim of gaslighting starts to feel unsure about their perceptions of the world and even wonder if they are losing their sanity. 

Gaslighting is common in abusive relationships like this, and is closely associated with other forms of emotional and physical abuse. While gaslighting is most common in romantic relationships, it can also occur within family or workplace relationships.

Some common phrases you might hear from your gaslighter are:

• You are making that up.
• It’s no big deal.
• You’re imagining things
• You’re so sensitive!
• You know that’s just because you are so insecure.
• Stop acting crazy. Or: You sound crazy, you know that, don’t you?
• You are just paranoid.
• You just love trying to throw me off track.
• I was just joking!
• You know you don’t remember things clearly.
• There’s no pattern. Or: You are seeing a pattern that is not there.
• You’re hysterical.
• You’re overreacting.
• You are always so dramatic.
• Don’t get so worked up.
• That never happened.

Here Are 7 Warning Signs Of Gaslighing 

1- Denial

Even when you have proof, they deny saying anything. You know they promised to do something, and you know you heard them. However, they flatly reject it. It causes you to doubt your own reality—perhaps they never said it. And the more they do it, the more you begin to doubt your own reality and accept theirs.

2- Projection.

Gaslighter's Projection involves denying a negative quality in himself/herself by seeing it in another person, even when it isn't really there. Projecting means they can continue to feel like an innocent victim. It may be a way of getting around a guilty conscience.

The abuser might provoke rage in the victim by being demeaning, withdrawing affection, making false accusations and so on. When the partner gets angry, they then say: "I'm not abusive; you are the one yelling and losing control."

3- Positive Discipline.

Although it may appear counterproductive, those who gaslight frequently include positive reinforcement in their negativity. When you hear it, it may make you wonder if the gaslighter is as horrible as you imagined, and it may make you feel uneasy, prompting you to doubt what you thought you knew. It's a good idea to keep a watch on whatever you were supposedly praised for; did it assist the gaslighter?

4- Confusion.

The individual who is gaslighting knows that confusion breeds weakness, thus the goal is to destabilise you. It's fairly uncommon for a victim to seek reassurance and stability from someone they care about, or from whom they need approval—usually the gaslighter.

5- Turning People. 

You might discover that the gaslighter is trying to turn others against you—or at least make you believe that they are. They're usually master manipulators—manipulation is utilised in sales, advertising, and politics as well. A gaslighter will sometimes tell you things that they want you to believe someone else is thinking. 'This person thinks this about you,' for example. It's vital to remember that this isn't always the case, and that the gaslighter is likely to lie to you on a regular basis. It's yet another attempt to make you uneasy and make you unsure of who you can trust. Alternatively, they may try to convince others that you are unstable or a liar in order to make you doubt your own reality.

6- Blame.

They rarely accept responsibility for their actions. A gaslighter will point the finger at you and say it's all your fault. As a result, you begin to believe, "I am to blame!" You eventually come to believe that their false story is correct.

They would say

• “Stop being so sensitive.”
• “You made me do it.”
• “I’m just joking.”
• “Aren’t you overreacting?”

7- Repetitive Behaviors.

Many people mistakenly believe that they would be able to detect manipulation as soon as it begins, allowing them to rapidly halt it. This, however, could not be further from the truth. Gaslighting usually takes place over a long period of time. The abuser gradually integrates more and more methods into the victim's daily life until the victim is unable to distinguish between them.

In The Below Article : 

7 effective ways to deal with Gaslighting